Over-knee-length stocking with rolling-front garter band



Oct. 15, 1940. c, H L 2,218,269

OVER-KNEE-LENGTH STOCKING WITH ROLLING-FRONT GARTER BAND Filed June 1,1858 2 M AL I a l Patented Oct. 15, 1940 OVER-KNEE -LENGTH STOCKING WITHROLLING-FRONT GARTER BAND Claude SheltomReading; Pa.,. assignor toVanity Fair Silk Mills,- Reading, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication net 1, 1938, Serial Ni. 211,294

10 Claims.

.This invention relates to knit hosiery of the over-knee-length type andhas for its object the provision of a stocking having a circumferentialgarter. band adjacent the top which functions as a strain absorber withreference to stresses produced by flexions of the knee, and as a wrinklepreventer and remover, by rolling down upon itself in the frontresponsive to stresses produced by flexing the knee, and returning tonormal position as the stresses disappear.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing throughout the several figures of which the samecharacters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure l is a perspective view of a stocking embodying the principles ofthe present invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same stocking with the kneebent;

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the stockingfrom therear;

I Figure 5 is a diametrical cross. section taken in a plane whichintersects one of the stays;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a woven garter band knit tothe top of the stocking;

Figure '7 is a perspectiveview illustrating a slightly modified form ofthe invention.

Referring now in detail to the several figures the numeral I representsa womens over-knee length knit "stocking having the elastic:circumferential garter band 2 either integrally knit or otherwisesecured to the top edge 3 of the stock-' ing. The garter band preferablycontains rubber elastic elements and is stretchable at least in acircumferential direction and preferably in both directions. i

Figure 6 shows the band 2 ofwoven material having the elastic. threadsI3 and being knit or cured to the garter band at the top edge of thelatter. V r

Figure 5 shows that the elastic garter band 2 when in relaxed or reposecondition is made of slightly smaller circumference at thelower or freeedge than at the upper edge. This serves two functions, it causes thelower portion of the garter band to grip .the leg particularly under thedownward thrust of the garter band against the leg produced by the pullof the stocking and it minimizes the constrictive pressure of the upperedge portion of the garter band against the leg permitting the frontportion to readily draw away from the leg under the pull of' thestocking, initiating the rolling. 1

Preferably, the stocking I is of the type having anintegrally knitstrain absorbing zone 4 incorporating one or more bands 5 of coveredlatex rubber thread stretchable longitudinally-for absorbing at least apart of the strain produced by the flexion of the knee. -Where suchstrain absorbing zone is present, the rolling front of the garter bandof the present invention may be" regarded as auxiliary to the strainabsorbing zone. 1 Inthe illustrated embodiment of' the inventiona pairof stays or bones 6 are shown secured transversely of the garter bandand preferably housed within pockets 1 integral with or sewn to saidgarter band. Said bones are preferably symmetrically positioned oneither side of the median front line of the stocking and being closerthan 180 degrees apart. These stays have the function of keeping thegarter band its full width throughout the large are at the sides andback of v the stocking so that the entire rolling must be in therelative small arcon the front of the stocking between the stays. Thestays have the further purpose of causing the webbing to come back morereadily around the leg.

In operation, when the knee is flexed as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3,the pull induced by the stretching of the knee of the stocking firstwidens the strain absorbing Zone 4 through stretching. the rubberelastic components thereof and to the, extent that the strain absorbingzone is inadequate toabsorb the entire strain, the front por-' tion ofthe garter band is rolled forward uponitself throughout an arcuateextent limited by the stays 6. l

' Figure 3 shows that the lower edge 8 of the garter band is in firmconstrictive contact with the leg, butthat theup per front portion ofthe garter band has been drawn out in a lip 9, the outer edge I-B ofwhich is drawn downwardly, forming theroll, by the direct pull of. thatpart. I I of the stocking which overlies the-garter band. Due to thefact that the garter band is stretch I2 are relatively close together,the garter band PA N OFFICE? immediately springs back to its normalposition I just as soon as the stress of the upper front portion-ofthestocking is relieved. This upward return of the front of thegarter bandto normal,

position draws out any wrinkles which otherwise.

would have remained in the knee of the stocking.

that the garter band 2 may be attached by .a top;

ping, looping or seaming operation as well as by band is in relaxedcondition, whereby the lower being integrally knit as has hereinbeforebeen edgeis-adapted to embrace the wearers leg more suggested thatthestocking itself can be 'made snugly than-the'upper edge. either with orwithout the strain absorbing zone 6. Over-knee-length knit stockinghaving an 4. In that form of the invention shown in Figure. g -alasticgarter band above the knee, inwardly of '7, the strain absorbing zonehas been reduced to ith e stocking and connected thereto at the top amere single narrowband of integrally knit "of the garter ban'd, stiffstays extending trans-,

covered latex rubber courses. verselyof said band on opposite sides ofthe front While I have in the above description disclosed, center ofsaid band said band being characterized what I believe to be a preferredand practical. by theabsence of front stays, the lower edge ofembodiment of the invention, it will be undersaid band being free fromattachment to said stood to those skilled in the art that numerousstocking at least between said stays, said stockequivalent constructionsand arrangements of ing having a strain absorbing zone between the partsmay be employed and still be within the knee andsaid garter band.

scope of the appended claims. 7. Over-knee-length knit stocking havingan *What I claim is: elastic garter 'band above the knee, inwardly of 1.Over-knee-length knit stocking having an the stocking and connectedthereto at the top elasticgarter band above the knee, inwardlyIOf ofsaid garter band said band being characterized the stocking, andconnected thereto at the top by th'egab'senceof front stays, stiff staysextendof-the garter band, stiff stays extending tranjsing transverselyof said garter band on opposite versely' of the garter band on oppositesides {of sides'of the front center of said band, the lower the frontcenter of said band said band being characterized by the absence offront stays,-the

lovifiere-dg'eof said band being free from attach-' of the garter band,said garter band incorporat,

1 band being free from attachment to said stockv in'g rubber threads,stiff stays extending trans:

ve'rsely of; said garter band on opposite sides'of the front center ofthe garter band said. band being characterized by the absence of frontstays,- the lower edge of said band being free from attaching 'to saidstocking at least between saida 3; Qver-kne-length knit stocking havingan. elastic garter band above the knee, inwardly of thestocking andconnected thereto at the top of said garter band, said garter bandincorporating'rubber threads so disposed as to impart elasticityfto saidband both circumferentially and Widthwi'se, stiif staysextendingtransversely of said garter band on opposite sides of the front centerof said band said band being characterized by the absence of frontstays, the lower edge of sa'id'band being free from attachment to saidstocking at least between said stays.

'4. Over-knee-length knit stocking having an elasticgarter band abovethe knee, inwardly of the stocking'and connected thereto at the top ofsaid 'garter band, the lower edge of said garter band being of smallercircumference than the upper edge when said band is in relaxedconditionjwher'eby the lower edge is adapted to em brace the wearers legmoresnugly than the upper edge,- stiff stays extending transversely ofsaid garter band on opposite sides of the front center of said band saidband being characterized by the absence of front stays, the lower edgeof said band being free from attachment to said stocking at leastbetween said stays;

"5. Over knee-length knit stocking having an.

elastic garter band above the knee, inwardly of the stocking andconnected thereto at the top of the garter band, said garter bandincorporating rubber threads so disposed as to impart elasticity bothcircumferentially and width-Wise of saidband', 'stifi" stays extendingtransversely of said garter band on oppositesides of the front centerofsaid band said band being characterized by' the absence of front stays,the lower edge of said ing at least between said stays, and being ofsmaller circumference than the upper edge when the edge of said bandbeing of smaller circumference I than the upper edge whenthe band is inrelaxed condition", whereby the lower edge is adapted, to

embrace the Wearers leg more. snugly than the upper edge, said loweredgebeing free from attachment to said stocking at least between saidstays. i

SJOVer-knee-length knit -stocking having an elastic garter-band; abovethe knee, inwardly of I garter band on opposite sides of the frontcenter of said band s'a'id band being characterized by the' absence offront stays, the lower edge of said band being of smaller circumferencethan the stiff stays extending transversely of said garter i band onopposite sides'of the front center of said band said band beingcharacterized by the absence of front stays, the lower edge of said bandbeing of smaller circumference than the upper edge when said band is inrelaxed condition,

whereby'the lower edge is adapted to embrace the wearers leg more snuglythan the upper edge, said lower" edge being free from attachment to saidstocking at'least between said stays.

10. Over knee-length knit stocking, having an elastic garter band abovethe knee, inwardly of the stocking and connected thereto at the top ofthe garterband, said garter band incorporating rubberthreads, stiffstays extending transversely of said garter band on opposite sides ofthe front center of said band, said band being characterized by theabsence of front stays, the lower edge of said band being free fromattachment to said stocking at least between said stays, and being ofsmaller circumference than the upper edge when SHELTON.

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